New Opportunities for Survivors in NY & NJ to hold their abusers accountable

Abuse survivors in New York and New Jersey who are beyond the statute of limitations will now have an opportunity to hold their abusers, as well as those who enabled them, accountable.

The New York Child Victims Act was signed into law on February 14, 2019. The bill allows victims up until age 28 to press charges for felony abuse, and up to age 26 to file charges for misdemeanor sexual abuse crimes. The statute of limitations for civil suits has also been extended from age 28 to age 50. But most importantly, the law, which went into effect immediately, includes a one year “look-back window” that gives victims a new opportunity to file suit in decades-old claims.

Similarly, New Jersey legislators reached an agreement that would allow victims of childhood sexual abuse to bring a civil suit up until the age of 55, or seven years after they make the connection between their emotional and psychological injury and the abuse. The bill also opens a two-year window in which to pursue legal action, from December 1, 2019 to November 30, 2021.

Do not wait if you want to pursue legal action. Contact an attorney who specializes in child sexual abuse as soon as possible!